Vaping advocates plead governor to veto HB 1386

Chairman of Hoosier Vapers, Evan McMahon, said the bill could have a detrimental effect to the vaping industry and business owners in Indiana.

“Nearly 2200 people are going to lose their jobs,” McMahon said. “The families of the business owners are going to have to find some other way to make ends meet. We’ve already had 11 businesses close in Indiana since January.”

Supporters of the bill said they were forced to regulate the industry due to a lack of regulations from the federal government. They also said they aren’t trying to stop people from vaping, but rather keep vapers safe.

McMahon points to the part of the bill that deals with security firms for E-liquid manufactures as what creates a problemfor the industry.

Currently, E-liquid manufactures are required to have a security firm for quality control of the product. HB 1386 requires security firms to have very specialized certifications. McMahon said only one firm in the country can meet the standard.

“This is supposed to be a state that works. Not a state that closes businesses,” he said.

More than 100 employees and business owners gathered at the statehouse Saturday to share their story and how the bill would impact their lives.

Vaper Kings’ Lisa Snead, of Indianapolis, shared her story about how vaping changed her life. Before vaping, Snead said she smoked two packs a day for 40 years.

“I can say I’m two and half years clean and I have never felt better and I’m definitely trying to help other people,” Snead said.

The bill is on the governor’s desk and he has a week to sign the bill into law or veto it.

“There are 165,000 vapers in the state of Indiana that are watching the governor right now to see if he is going to do the right thing and defend small businesses or if he is going to stand on the side of monopolist,” McMahon said.